PESHAWAR, July 13: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan will inaugurate the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy, the first of its kind in the country, in the capital city on July 19.

Currently, the academy to be established in the centuries old building of the former sessions court on Sher Shah Suri Road is getting a facelift.

“The premises was handed over to us on March 10 this year and in a short span of four months, we have turned it into an impressive building,” KPJA director general Hayat Ali Shah told reporters on Friday.

Mr Hayat said though the centre, Sindh and Punjab had own judicial academies, the one being set up by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be unique for having a wide range of functions.

He said in other judicial academies, training had only been imparted to judicial officers, whereas the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa academy would train all people related to the judiciary, including police, prosecutors, prison staff and lawyers.

The KPJA director general said training workshops would also be arranged for journalists to make them aware of media-related laws, including those on defamation, contempt of court and press council.

KPJA project director Saleem Khan and dean of a faculty Dr Khursheed Iqbal, who were also in attendance, said the academy was the brainchild of the PHC chief justice, who announced its establishment soon after assuming office in November 2011.

The three KPJA officials are district and sessions judges.

Mr Hayat said for setting up the academy first an ordinance was promulgated by the governor in December 2011 after which the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy Act, 2012, was enacted by the provincial assembly in January 2012.

He said the provincial government had provided Rs42.5 million for repairing and renovating the building and Rs50 million for other needs.

Mr Hayat added that a request had been put up to the federal and provincial governments to provide Rs100 million each as grant for the functioning of the academy.

He said KPJA administration was in contact with international agencies, including UNDP and World Bank, for different projects.

Mr Saleem told reporters that the academy had received a letter from the provincial government for allotment of land measuring 150 kanals in Regi area for the construction of a hostel.

“Until our hostel is ready, we have requested the provincial assembly speaker to provide a portion of MPA Hostel adjacent to the academy for use as hostel,” he said.

The KPJA project director said after the academy was inaugurated, an FM radio station would also be launched for distant learning and creation of pubic awareness of legal issues.

“At a later stage, we’ll launch an education channel,” he said, adding that the academy would have an e-library attached with leading national and international libraries.

According to KPJA administrative officer Asghar Ali Salarzai, the academy will train judges and personnel concerned with other justice system institutions, sensitise judges and all other justice sector personnel to their duty of efficient delivery of justice services to the citizens, and help end delay in disposal of cases.